The Risen Star

Last year, trainer Steve Asmussen had the Horse of the Year in Curlin, who ran in all three Triple Crown races and won the Preakness. The man from Texas should be a player this year as well. He is running two here in the Risen Star Saturday and most eyes will be on Pyro, a son of Pulpit who is making his seasonal debut.

Pyro was last seen in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, finishing four lengths behind 2-year-old champ War Pass. Many expect Pyro to be a player in this year’s Classics and I’m one of them. But I won’t pick him with a short price Saturday.

The Risen Star is expected to have a field of 11 (Check It Twice from trainer Todd Pletcher is a likely scratch). I am landing on the Michael Matz-trained Visionaire, a son of Grand Slam, who was an easy winner in an allowance at Gulfstream last month. Matz knows how to train horses and when he says a horse can run, you believe him.

Blackberry Road only has one win in seven starts buyt he shows up just about every time. He was second in the Grade III LeComte in his last start Jan. 18, which came on this track. He’ll be ridden by Calvin Borel and should be flying late.

Other possible exotic breakers are Unbridled Vicar, Z Fortune (also from Asmussen but he is not coupled with Pyro because of differnt ownership) and the Darp.